Tuesday, July 28, 2009

So I am a little behind schedule but wanted to post our 7 year old, T-man’s birthday! We invited the missionaries and visitors for a birthday party that night complete with mac-n-cheese and applesauce (a rare treat here!). The favorite gift was from his sisters—arrows and holder for his bow.

The next night we invited all the little boys from the orphanage to come over to watch Tom and Jerry cartoons (compliments of Thomas, T’s friend who sent it to him for his birthday) and have popcorn.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

We came to Uganda to work with close to 100 children at GSF and interact with another 250 children at the school. We share their stories and pictures with you here on this blog. However, today, I thought I’d write and show some pictures of the 3 kids who are our primary responsibility, our joy and have captured our hearts! They indeed are our favorites! Our desire is although our lives are consumed with ministering to many kids that our kids will grow up knowing they are a high priority in our lives. We are so proud of them and their roles here at GSF. Although they have their own struggles, I think they are some of the best missionaries around!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A thanks goes out to Gayla who asked me to put a picture of Angel and Joann on the blog. One of our interns took this picture and I think it is such a good picture of both of them. They are doing well and adjusting. Thank you everyone for your prayers for them.

Monday, July 13, 2009

A grandmother brought a baby, Aaron, to the orphanage today. Her daughter is not well and is staying with relatives while she the grandmother takes care of the baby along with 4 other children. Aaron was getting only one or two meals a day and is 8 months old. Our family agreed to take him for the night to find out if he sleeps through the night and help get him get on a feeding schedule before moving him to one of the houses. This afternoon, he began feeling quite warm so I took his temperature and it was 102.5! We tested him and he has malaria. We are so thankful he is here to get the medical care he needs. Needless to say, we will be keeping him a few more days. He is a sweetie and has captured our hearts.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

We got word that Angela died this morning in the hospital. Our hearts ache for the suffering that this little girl went through here on earth and yet rejoice that her suffering is now over. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray those here who loved and cared for her for the short time she was here especially for Claudia and her girls. Pray also for God to use this in Angela’s family to bring a realization of the great love of a heavenly Father! Thank you again for praying!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Thank you to everyone for praying for Angela. Just got word that she made it through the night-Praise the Lord! She is on iv and feeding tube but opened her eyes when Claudia said her name this morning. The doctors said it will be a miracle if she makes it. We believe in the God of miracles. Thank you for your prayers! We will keep you updated.

On a much smaller scale, I am doing better and had a good night last night. I take my last dose of Coartem (malaria meds) this morning so hopefully I am on the road to recovery. Thank you for praying for us as well.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

A little girl came to our orphanage on Monday who was so malnourished and the hospital told us that she would die if they let her go anywhere but to us. Claudia, another missionary here took her into her home feeding her small amounts of chicken broth and eventually having to give her a blood transfusion. We just got news that she started having heart failure and Claudia and Bob are on the way to the hospital. Please pray for little Angela and for wisdom for doctors and nurses and those with her.

We would appreciate your prayers as malaria has hit our family again. I (Amy) got it this time. We would appreciate your prayers as we have our largest team here and Mark is also fighting a cold. I have been on medicine since Tuesday evening so getting better but I am just ready to be over it. The fever and aches continue.

As I have had time to reflect on all this, I realize that I am still so blessed. As I lay in my comfortable bed in my house made of brick and concrete, I realize there are people in the next village over who live in mud huts and have no means of transport except to walk 30 minutes to an hour to our clinic to get the malaria medicine needed for them to get better. I feel weak and tired but can’t imagine how they feel after walking that distance just to get medicine. Unfortunately, the majority of the time we have been here, GSF clinic has been closed to the nearby villages due to the lack of medical personnel. So if we are not open they have to go further and possibly not get the medicine for free. As you pray for us, please pray for more medical personnel so we can reach out to the community around us.

Gwartneys in Uganda

When we were called to go to Good Shepherd's Fold Children's and Babies' Home in Buundo, Uganda, God confirmed in our hearts Proverbs 14:26. In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. The Lord, with the strong confidence He gives, is the only reason we are here and have been able to stay here. We are able to find our refuge and our strength in Him. You are welcome to follow along as our family learns of His strength and confidence and are called to share that with others.

Mark & Amy

Mark

Teams coordinator and Director of support services but here he is doing one thing he enjoys most--holding a sweet little one!

Amy

Amy with Lilly and Cathy, two of our special needs girls

Caralina

loves photography, babies, toddlers and blogging (click on her picture to see her blog)

Megan the middlest

loves to garden, read books (especially mysteries) , do school and come up with crazy ideas and concoctions

T-man

Loves drumming, drawing, shooting bows and arrows, playing soccer, playing with the babies and toddlers, and going on safari!